Dispensing system and methods

Abstract

The invention provides exemplary dispensing systems and methods for dispensing medical supply items. According to one exemplary method, a dispensing cabinet is provided having a processor. An auxiliary storage location is also provided and is separate from the dispensing cabinet. The auxiliary storage location has at least one door and at least one lock to lock the door, with the lock being operable upon receipt of a signal from the processor. Further, the auxiliary storage location holds at least one medical supply item. User identification information and charge account information are entered into the processor to cause the processor to send a signal to unlock the lock. An item sensor on the dispensing cabinet is actuated to record removal of the medical supply item from the auxiliary storage location. The medical supply item is then removed from the auxiliary storage location.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for dispensing medical supply items, the method comprising: providing a dispensing cabinet having a processor;   providing an auxiliary storage location which is separate from the dispensing cabinet and has at least one door and at least one lock to lock the door, wherein the lock is operable upon receipt of a signal from the processor, and wherein the auxiliary storage location holds at least one medical supply item;   entering into the processor user identification information and charge account information to cause the processor to send a signal to unlock the lock;   actuating an item sensor on the dispensing cabinet to record removal of the medical supply item from the auxiliary storage location; and   removing the medical supply item from the auxiliary storage location.   
     
     
       2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary storage location includes a plurality of items of the same type and further comprising actuating the item sensor a number of times corresponding to the number of desired items, and removing the desired number of items from the auxiliary storage location. 
     
     
       3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary storage location includes a plurality of items of different types, wherein the dispensing cabinet includes a plurality of item sensors which correspond to the different types of items, and further comprising actuating the item sensors that correspond to the types of items that are desired to be removed, and removing the selected items. 
     
     
       4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing cabinet includes at least one door, a lock to lock the door, a plurality of medical supply items, and a plurality of dispensing cabinet-associated item sensors, wherein entry of the user identification and charge account information into the processor unlocks the dispensing cabinet door, and further comprising actuating one of the dispensing cabinet-associated sensors and removing one of the items from the dispensing cabinet which is associated with the actuated item sensor to record removal of the item from the dispensing cabinet. 
     
     
       5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing cabinet and the auxiliary storage location each include an exit button, and further comprising operating the exit button to send a signal to the processor to cause the processor to re-lock the locks on the dispensing cabinet and the auxiliary storage location. 
     
     
       6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising relocking the lock after a predetermined amount of time has expired. 
     
     
       7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising unlocking the lock prior to actuating the item sensor. 
     
     
       8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising entering into the processor a name of the medical supply item to be removed from the auxiliary storage location and lighting a visual indicator adjacent the item sensor that is associated with the entered medical supply item. 
     
     
       9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising entering the name of the medical supply item into the processor either before or after the lock is unlocked. 
     
     
       10. A method as in claim 8, further comprising selecting the name from a list of names stored in the processor. 
     
     
       11. A method as in claim 8, further comprising displaying a written description of the position of the entered item within the auxiliary storage location. 
     
     
       12. A method as in claim 3, further comprising periodically restocking medical supply items into the auxiliary storage location. 
     
     
       13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising generating a restock list with the processor prior to restocking. 
     
     
       14. A method as in claim 12, further comprising lighting visual indicators adjacent the item sensors which correspond to the types of items to be restocked. 
     
     
       15. A method as in claim 3, further comprising generating a list of items and associated quantities that are held within the auxiliary storage location from information stored in the processor, visually inspecting the auxiliary storage location to determine any discrepancies in the generated list, and updating the information stored in the processor to eliminate any discrepancies. 
     
     
       16. A method as in claim 15, wherein the updating step comprises entering user identification information into the processor, placing the processor into a cycle count mode, actuating the item sensors corresponding to items having a count discrepancy, and entering into the processor the correct quantity of the items stored in the auxiliary storage location. 
     
     
       17. A method for dispensing medical supply items, the method comprising: providing a dispensing cabinet having a processor;   providing an auxiliary storage location which is separate from the dispensing cabinet and has at least one door and at least one lock to lock the door, wherein the lock is operable upon receipt of a signal from the processor, and wherein the auxiliary storage location holds at least one medical supply item;   entering into the processor user identification information and charge account information to cause the processor to send a signal to unlock the lock;   actuating an item sensor on the dispensing cabinet after the lock has been unlocked to record removal of the medical supply item from the auxiliary storage location; and   removing the medical supply item from the auxiliary storage location.   
     
     
       18. A system for dispensing medical supply items, the system comprising: a dispensing cabinet having a processor with an entry device to enter user identification information and charge account information into the processor;   an auxiliary storage location separate from the dispensing cabinet and having at least one door and a lock to lock the door, wherein the lock is operated upon receipt of a signal from the processor that is produced upon entry of the user identification information and charge account information into the processor; and   wherein the dispensing cabinet further includes at least one item sensor which is in communication with the processor, wherein actuation of the item sensor after the lock has been unlocked records removal of an item from the auxiliary storage location.   
     
     
       19. A system as in claim 18, further comprising a plurality of auxiliary storage locations, wherein each storage location includes a lock which is operated upon receipt of a signal from the processor that is produced upon entry of the user identification information and charge account information into the processor. 
     
     
       20. A system as in claim 18, wherein the storage location is selected from the group of storage locations consisting of cabinets, closets and rooms. 
     
     
       21. A system as in claim 18, wherein the lock is electrically coupled to the processor. 
     
     
       22. A system as in claim 18, wherein the auxiliary storage location includes a plurality of storage areas for holding different types of items, wherein the dispensing cabinet includes a plurality of item sensors which correspond to the different types of items, and wherein the item sensors are actuated to record removal of the associated items from the storage areas. 
     
     
       23. A system as in claim 18, wherein the dispensing cabinet includes at least one door, a lock to lock the door, a plurality of medical supply items, and a plurality of dispensing cabinet-associated item sensors in communication with the processor, wherein entry of the user identification and charge account information into the processor unlocks the dispensing cabinet door, and wherein actuation of one of the dispensing cabinet-associated sensors records removal of one of the items from the dispensing cabinet. 
     
     
       24. A system as in claim 18, wherein the dispensing cabinet or the auxiliary storage location includes an exit button which is operable to send a signal to the processor to cause the processor to re-lock the lock. 
     
     
       25. A system as in claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to record removal of one item each time the item sensor is actuated. 
     
     
       26. A system as in claim 18, wherein the dispensing cabinet further includes a visual indicator adjacent the item sensor, and wherein the visual indicator is lighted upon entry of a name of the medical supply item into the processor. 
     
     
       27. A system as in claim 18, wherein the processor includes a cycle count mode to allow the stored quantities of items held in the auxiliary storage location to be manually adjusted. 
     
     
       28. A system as in claim 18, wherein the processor includes information on the position of items in the auxiliary storage location, and wherein the processor further includes a display screen to display a written description of each position. 
     
     
       29. A system as in claim 18, wherein the dispensing cabinet further includes a printer to print lists of information stored in the processor.